King, Robert

Posted August 2nd, 2009 by ancestralheroes

CAPT. ROBERT KING (deceased), grandfather of Alfred King, was one of the early pioneers, and the first actual settler of Erie Co., Penn., having come here in July, 1794, by way of the West branch of the Susquehanna and over the mountains, nearly on the route of the P. & E.R.R. to the Tionesta River, near Sheffield, in Warren Co. The following is taken from Mr. B. Whitman’s History of Le Boeuf Township, Erie, Penn. "First land was selected in Le Boeuf, in 1794, by Capt. Robert King, who took up 400 acres at the present Ford Bridge." "Capt. King retiring to his home in Lycoming Co., he brought his family along in the spring of 1795."

"Capt. Robert King, the pioneer of the township, had been an officer in the Revolutionary war, and also rendered the State important service in securing treaties with the Indians; as a reward for which the Legislature of Penn. voted him 400 acres of land, west of the Allegheny River. It was to take advantage of this bounty that he first visited the township. In company with his hired man he crossed the mountains from Lycoming Co. through an almost impenetrable forest to the present site of Sheffield, Warren Co., Penn., where he built a canoe in which they descended the Tionesta and Allegheny, to where Franklin now stands. From there, they poled the canoe up French Creek 80 miles, to the site of the Captain’s future home. On returning to Lycoming Co., they took a different route eastward from the Allegheny, and when they came back with Capt. King’s family, of five sons and six daughters, it was by way of Pittsburgh." He and his family arrived at their new home May 15, 1795, and here the grand old patriot and soldier remained until the day of his death, which occurred about 1826. The Captain was a brave and accomplished soldier and officer, and served his country with honor and credit throughout the Revolutionary war. He was personally acquainted with Gen. La Fayette. "When La Fayette," says Mr. Whitman in his History of Le Boeuf Township, "returned to visit this county, and was at Waterford, the Captain, who had a personal acquaintance with him, during the struggles and hardships of the Revolutionary war, called to pay his respects to the eminent and patriotic Frenchman. Gen. La Fayette saw him when several rods away, and speaking out said: ‘There comes Capt. King,’ and advanced eagerly to meet the veteran."